HealingandHealth.org

The DIRTY DOZEN:

Foods to avoid (or go organic!)

Pesticides are a recognized cause of cancer and other immunity challenges, damage to the brain and nervous system, and even birth defects. The USDA and the FDA have found many of these chemical residues in common store items, according to tests done on more than 100,000 samples of food.

Now there is another important reason to avoid pesticides and other synthetic chemicals often lurking in our food — weight gain.

According to ground-breaking research by Paula Baillie-Hamilton, M.D., an internationally recognized expert on human metabolism and nutrition, pesticides are among the most fattening of all chemicals, and the chemical burden on our bodies from contaminated food, air and water may very well be slowing down our body's metabolism, and is rapidly becoming one of the most important causes of the current obesity epidemic plaguing not only the U.S. population but now even third world countries, as they adopt our "fast-food" way of eating.

We are very grateful to Dr. Baillie-Hamilton who has graciously granted special permission for us to be able to share with you the following list of foods that have among the highest amounts of pesticides and other chemicals that can contribute towards weight gain. These are foods you'll want to either avoid, or to try purchasing organic alternatives whenever possible in order to reduce the exposure to chemicals for you and your loved ones.

Please note that the health and wellness information presented on these pages is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Reader assumes all responsibility as to how he or she applies the information.

FDA requires the following disclaimer: "The health and wellness statements made on this site have not been evaluated by the FDA. Foods/supplements mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease."

The following are the most contaminated with chemicals (in descending order):

1. Butter, regular salted

2. Salmon, steaks or fillets, fresh or frozen, baked

3. Spinach, fresh or frozen, boiled

4. Strawberries, raw

5. Cream cheese

6. Raisins

7. Apple, red, raw, unpeeled

8. Dill cucumber pickles

9. Summer squash, fresh or frozen, boiled

10. Green peppers

11. Collards, fresh or frozen, boiled

12. Processed cheese, U.S.

Note from Tada family:

We highly recommend Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton's book, "The Body Restoration Plan." This important work contains a wealth of information on the revolutionary discovery that environmental toxins in our food, air, water, packaging, cosmetics and household products can enter and damage the body's metabolism mechanism, causing weight gain at unprecedented rates. Included in her book are detailed food tables listing the level of chemical contamination in many common foods; tips on detoxifying your body and home; detox menu plans and recipes; and much more.

Among the many eye-opening facts Dr. Baillie-Hamilton shares in her book is that a majority of popular diets are actually making people fatter because they do not adequately detoxify the body of the chemicals released from body fat when dieting.

She also mentions that supplementation is a necessity, because even the most well-balanced diet cannot provide all the various nutrients the body needs due to food overprocessing, storage and chemicals used in farming. And with a large percentage of people dieting and reducing their nutrient intake, supplementation all the more becomes crucial to make up the loss.*

The back panel of the book reads, "The Body Restoration Plan reveals the many potential health benefits of a diet that reduces the consumption of chemicals, processed foods, and additives, and presents a practical program to boost energy, restore health, and overcome persistent weight problems."

Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton's credentials make her well qualified to be one of the most reliable experts in her field. She is a medical doctor with an academic doctorate in human metabolism from the University of Oxford, and is a visiting fellow in occupational and environmental health at Stirling University in Scotland. She is an advisor to the Soil Association, the UK's organic certification body. Her extensive work on chemical toxins and organic foods has been published in international medical journals.

Her book is an outstanding wellness resource for your consideration.

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* (For criteria on how to choose a reliable food supplement, please see the Teaching page on this site.)

“Therefore, whether you EAT or DRINK, or whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God.”